Thanksgiving 2009

This year the Ballard family began two new Thanksgiving traditions. We kicked off the morning by creating an obstacle course in which the kiddos had to complete tasks, first individually, and then as a team. They all did very well in the various events offered and each was able to bring home a gold medal.

"Cones and Trike"

"Putt It In"

"Jump It Up"

"Stack It Up"

Thatch running through the finish line. Behind him you can see our other two events,

"Hula Hooping" and "Shoot 'em Through"

Before Thanksgiving dinner could be enjoyed we held our first annual Ballard Turkey Trot, where each individual had to complete a lap around the cove and then "tag" the next family member. They each completed three full laps and were able to bring home a gold medal in that event as well.

On Friday and Saturday Ryley and Kadyn participated in a horse camp that's located a few miles from our house. Each day ran from 9am to 4pm and the workers taught them everything from grooming, to mounting, to riding their horses all around the 5 available acres. Needless to say they were in heaven for two days straight. We're not quite sure that any Thanksgiving in their near future will be able to compare.

Ryley and Scout

Kadyn and Beauty

They let Thatch feed and ride a pony as well.

How grateful we are, how much we have to be thankful for.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday as well.

Trevor Turkey. A tradition for many years.

Dad and Thatch prepping the bird.

Harvest Happenings

Our most recent activities have included a variety of events.

First, after viewing a news story that featured a beautiful nearby area currently blooming with fall colors, we decided to hop in the car and make the hour drive. While all nature is beautiful, we quickly realized the story must have been filler that had been taped several weeks previously. The leaves were at the end of their peak colors (to be honest- they were all brown and on the ground) and large amounts of rain had washed out two miles of the three-mile trail. Remind me next time to call the news station and check when the story was filmed. The kiddos, who are proving resilient in all of our last minute misadventures, loved the drive, the muddy walk, and the thousands of lady bugs that decided to visit (or rather infest) the woods that day- (honestly they were kind of scary aggressive). Thanks channel 5!

Next, Kadyn's kindergarten class, in conjunction with a fellow class across the hall, put on a wonderful play for Thanksgiving. It was so fun to see her perform and watch her individual personality come blazing through. I think that has to be one of my favorite parts of being a mother - watching each child blossom with their own unique strengths and talents. It's amazing to see. It was a great performance and concluded with a Thanksgiving feast for all.

Kadyn and Mrs. Welch (her amazing teacher)

Finally, considering that our current family portrait has Thatch as a four month old, we decided to head for a studio and paid Sears to take away the personal headache and stress of getting four young children to look in one direction, and smile, all at the same time. I have two words to define this exciting/highly stressful/absolutely necessary activity, "IT'S DONE".

They also took care of each child's individual shot, which helped me out tons seeing as I was eight weeks behind for Haley's and right on time for Ryley's. Now, I'm not only caught up with birthday pictures, I'm eight weeks ahead of schedule for Kadyn's! Yea. That never happens. I posted proofs below, but for our wall I had them crop all the pictures vertical and add a gentle black and white tone.

Eight Is Great, And Came Fast

Ryley turned eight last Wednesday and was baptized Saturday morning. It was a wonderful experience for our family. We had spoken with the kids quite frequently during family home evenings about the special things that would take place on this memorable day. It was equally a tender experience for Steven, who held it together quite impressively until her confirmation. As they sat down following that sweet experience Ryley leaned over to wipe her Dad's tears.

We are very excited for Ryley in making this important decision to be baptized and feel grateful daily for her strong spirit and wonderful example. Happy 8th Birthday Ryley!

Miss Washington (her awesome school teacher)

Mrs. Teresa (great neighbor and friend)

The primary presidency gave this to Ryley

Halloween 2009

In the beginning we had...

a skeleton, Batman, witch, and ballerina.

Five minutes later we had...

Superman, a skeleton, witch, and ballerina.

(Poor kid is torn between his super hero's)

We also had...

Ed McMahon's prize patrol and the million dollar winner (at home)

and...

Ed McMahon's prize patrol and the million dollar winner (at church)

(Yes, I actually went out in public like that)

This year the girls prepared the pumpkin, chose a picture....

then Daddy did this!

We also now believe that Halloween may very well be Haley J's favorite holiday.

I'm A Big Girl Look What I Can Do!

Haley J is thirteen months and suddenly on the go.

She has taken us by surprise because her brother and sisters were

practically running circles at ten months.

We are assuming with the high number of individuals that are constantly

sitting, playing, and talking with her,

she must have decided there was no good reason to move!

Secretly, I have loved every minute of it.

They grow way to fast already.

At this point she is still sitting on my hip in "monkey" position and with her constant snuggles

I feel as though time has stood still - or at least slowed down a bit.

Boo Zoo II

We gave "Boo Zoo" a second try this year. Our first experience was in Colorado, and while we had a good time, Steven and I had decided that for $10 a head it was highly overrated. With another wonderful zoo at our fingertips however we decided to give it one more try. The verdict? We probably should have gone with our original feelings of "highly overrated". Having said that, the kids absolutely loved it and had a wonderful evening filled with new activities and excitement. Just to be in the zoo after their normal closing hours of 5pm was a wonderful adventure in their eyes.

You know, as parents, how there are some activities that you just do? You put a smile on your face and a bounce in your step because, even though you are freezing and not all that excited about the particular activity, the kids are loving every minute of it. Well, this was one of those evenings for the Ballard parents. In the end, the smile on their little faces was enough to make it all worth it, almost.

Fall Break Fun

With summer temperatures fading we made a final trip to the drive in and enjoyed watching "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs". We really enjoyed this film. There is one part where a giant pancake lands on top of a school and as all the children run for safety they stop to look back and in unison reply, "no school". For some reason our children found this part exceptionally funny so more than anything we have enjoyed hearing the kids repeat various lines over the past few days.

Ballard children: (all at once and in very excited, loud voices) "And then they run from the school, and then they like turn, and then their faces are like this, and then they say, "no school".

We also faired the rainy weather in hopes of getting our first look at the new "Teton Trek" exhibit at our zoo. It includes grizzly bears, grey wolves, elk, sandhill cranes and trumpeter swans. Let's just say the girls were in heaven. They even added a lodge that replicates the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone and outside of it placed "Old Faithful".

Headin' for the Drive In.

The wolves were probably the girls favorite new animal - and the bears - it's a toss up.